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Stephen Pallaras QC vows to improve women’s safety and treatment of the elderly 

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Stephen Pallaras QC vows to improve women’s safety and treatment of the elderly 

A few months after announcing his intention to run as an independent candidate for the South Australian Legislative Council in the upcoming state election, Former Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras QC formally launched his political party, named Real Change SA, last weekend.

“I want to give the people of South Australia a seat at the table where decisions are made,” Mr Pallaras told The Greek Herald.

“It seems as if the concept of representative democracy in South Australia is fast disappearing and it’s about time that we had a government or system that represented the wishes of the people.

“I’m not happy with the standard of government and I think I can make an improvement.”

Stephen Pallaras at the formal launch of his political party. Photo Credit: Facebook/Real Change SA

Talking about his priorities if elected as an MP in March, Stephen Pallaras referred to women’s safety, the insecurity for the elderly and the improvement of the state’s health system.

“I want to put women’s safety first. I will be looking to change laws relating to the trial of the offense of rape. Because rape, as I have known over the 45 years that I’ve practiced in criminal law, has the lowest – by a long way – success rate in terms of getting prosecutions, which means that every other offense, you’re more likely to get a conviction than you are for rape.”

READ MORE: Former Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Pallaras QC, launches political party.

Mr Pallaras also wants to help improve the current domestic violence statistics.

“We have a domestic violence rate, which is about the worst in the world, in the sense that one woman every week is murdered in a domestic violence situation. That is just unacceptable in a civilised community.”

“At the moment we have two epidemics. One is COVID and the other is domestic violence,” said the Former DPP also expressing his dissatisfaction with the way the state’s elderly citizens are treated. 

“Unfortunately, they are often treated as second-class citizens. They can’t generally afford to get into aged care homes and those who do, we found that they have been consistently assaulted.”

Stephen Pallaras with prominent SA developer Theo Maras

But the issues the founder of Real Change SA will endeavour to address do not end here.

“Our health system is another area of concern for me, it’s crumbling. It has suffered from inactivity from those who are running it.

“We have nurses and doctors who are collapsing with exhaustion. We have ambulances that are ramping for hours waiting to get patients into hospitals. Ambulance drivers are working double shifts. It’s simply not working.”

A proud Australian of Greek heritage whose family migrated to Port Pirie from the island of Kastellorizo in the 1890s, Mr Pallaras is also a strong advocate for multiculturalism. 

 “I’m a strong advocate for more diversity in all fields, particularly in the parliament, because we then get a view different to the traditional white, Anglo-Saxon one and an understanding of what affects people of different backgrounds.” 

“I think South Australia is a great state, but there are many things that need fixing,” he said.

Four Australians of Greek heritage named in ‘Sport’s Rich 100 List’

The Greek Herald
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Four Australians of Greek heritage named in ‘Sport’s Rich 100 List’

‘Sport’s Rich 100 List’ has been revealed by The Daily Telegraph today and among the names of Australia’s wealthiest athletes are four Australian’s of Greek heritage.

Who are they? Find out below.

17. George Kambosos Jr (Boxing) – $5 million:

The new unified lightweight champion of the world earned a career-high $2.4 million fighting Teofimo Lopez late last year and now owns all four title belts.

Kambosos Jr should get more for his first defence, while a host of new sponsors will come on board.

READ MORE: ‘I’m the emperor’: George Kambosos Jr crowned world unified lightweight champion.

23. Nick Kyrgios (Tennis) – $3.5 million:

Nick Kyrgios recently won the Australian Open doubles competition with his good friend, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and that’s put him on top of the world.

Kyrgios earnt just over $550,000 last year in prize money but has picked up a raft of sponsorship deals in the past two years since changing management and revamping his image, despite hardly playing during the pandemic.

READ MORE: Toni Nadal: Nick Kyrgios is one of the world’s greatest tennis stars after the Big 3.

39. Marcus Stoinis (Cricket) – $2.2 million:

Marcus Stoinis’ wages are heading skywards due to a $2 million deal with new IPL franchise Lucknow. Has a smaller deal with the Melbourne Stars.

Stoinis has played in Australia’s World Cup squad and twice got the team out of jail in the United Arab Emirates — in the World Cup opener against South Africa and then in an epic semi-final against Pakistan.

READ MORE: ‘I’ve failed in situations’: How Marcus Stoinis went from outcast to World Cup hero.

62. Adam Gotsis (American football) – $1.4 million:

Adam Gotsis was born in Melbourne, Australia to parents of Greek heritage. He grew up playing Australian rules football and supported the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Now he is a defensive linesman who played a strong part in Jacksonville’s campaign this season. After playing out his one-year contract, he will be sweating on a decision for the 2022 season.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Six customs from the Greek islands designated ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’

The Greek Herald
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Six customs from the Greek islands designated ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’

Six traditional customs from the Greek islands have been officially registered on Greece’s National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

According to Greece Is, the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports added these customs to the index as a means of preserving them for future generations and “actively contributing to their promotion and enrichment.”

The decision relates to specific practices and social rituals from the islands of Andros, Rhodes, Sifnos, Ikaria, Limnos and Nisyros. They include:

1. Veggera:

The “veggera” on Andros. Photo: Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

‘Veggera,’ or social gatherings, take place on the Greek island of Andros and are seen as crucial for maintaining social and familial networks.

They typically start off as informal family gatherings, usually in the evening and last until the early hours of the morning. Handmade treats are offered during the gathering, followed by drinking and dancing.

2. Melekouni:

Melekouni is a traditional sweet produced in the village of Koskinou on Rhodes. Made with sesame seeds, honey, almonds, citrus zest and spices, melekouni has a soft, chewy texture and is golden yellow in colour.

Due to its high nutritional value, melekouni is regarded as one of the healthiest Greek snacks, but it also stands out due to its great flavour.

Melekouni is traditionally offered at weddings, baptisms and name days in the village, and has been registered as having a protected designation of origin (PDO) by the European Union.

3. The ceramics of Sifnos:

A traditional potter at work on Sifnos. Photo: Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Sifnos is a still and tranquil island with a mythic reputation as a haven for potters and ceramicists. The ceramics industry forms a key part of the cultural heritage and collective sense of identity of islanders.

The rich lineage of pottery on Sifnos can be attributed to the clay-based earth and the copious sun which blesses the island throughout the year.

Today, over 15 ceramic workshops remain active across the island, employing traditional techniques and decorative motifs.

4. The Festivals of Ikaria:

The island of Ikaria hosts more than 80 festivals throughout the year, celebrating various Christian holidays.

The festivals, open to locals and visitors alike, include traditional music and dance, and serve to renew and maintain social and familial ties across the island.

Through the festivals, traditional Ikarian songs, dances, stories, and recipes are passed down from generation to generation.

5. The ‘Mantres’ of Limnos:

A traditional “mantra” (or “yard”) on Limnos. Photo: Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

The “mantres” or “yards” form the cornerstone of the agricultural infrastructure of Limnos. They are places of production where people can gather, share resources, discuss and inform each other on farming practices, and manage the local economy.

A mantra typically consists of a main building, several auxiliary spaces for storage, and the surrounding agricultural land.

6. Kalandira:

The Kalandira. Photo: greek-islands.us.

The island of Nisyros is home to the generations-old custom of the Kalandira, celebrated each year on Lazarus Sunday. 

On the day, islanders sing traditional songs and taste the “lazarakia” (stuffed pastries baked in the shape of Saint Lazarus).

During the celebration, school children, carrying specially-made bouquets of flowers and palm fronds (known as “vagia”), parade through the villages singing a poem about the Resurrection of Lazarus.

The children then walk around the Kalandira, a wooden object composed of two flexed, arc-shaped pieces forming a cross, and decorated with flowers.

Source: Greece Is.

NSW Government awards almost $700,000 in funding for Small Business Month

The Greek Herald
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NSW Government awards almost $700,000 in funding for Small Business Month

More than 200 organisations across NSW have been awarded almost $700,000 in NSW Government funding to host events as part of Small Business Month in March.

Minister for Small Business, Eleni Petinos, said a record 221 organisations including local councils, business chambers, industry associations and not-for-profits have been awarded grants up to $3,500 to support events that help local small businesses.

“The small business sector has done it tough during the COVID-19 pandemic so it’s great to see this level of interest in hosting events to help small businesses bounce back and build a stronger future,” Ms Petinos said. 

“The theme for this year’s Small Business Month is Rebuild, Recharge, Renew, with events focused on helping owners and operators rebuild from the pandemic, discover new and better ways of doing business and connect and collaborate with other businesses. 

“The month will feature a wide array of in person and online events that teach small business owners new skills and inspire them with new ideas, and also offer advice and support for people seeking to start a small business.”  

Ms Petinos said NSW Small Business Month is a great way to showcase the quality of diversity of small businesses that are the lifeblood of hundreds of local communities across NSW.

“There are over 800,000 small businesses in NSW, employing 1.6 million people and contributing more than $400 billion to the State’s annual sales and service income,” Ms Petinos said. 

Small Business Month events include:

  • A forum at ICC Sydney offering specialised technology solutions for businesses in the professional services industries.
  • A series of breakfasts for South Coast trade and construction business operators to learn about government support programs. 
  • An Instagram for Business workshop and a photography training session at Grenfell.
  • A series of online workshops on how to maximise live engagement online.   

While the grants program is now closed, organisations can still sign on as a Small Business Month Collaboration Partner and host an event to help small businesses and promote their brand. To date, more than 80 organisations have signed on as partners.

Further information on Small Business Month is available at www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au

Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals what Rafael Nadal asked him at the 2019 Laver Cup

The Greek Herald
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Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals what Rafael Nadal asked him at the 2019 Laver Cup

Stefanos Tsitsipas has opened up on the advice he received from Rafael Nadal during the Laver Cup in 2019.

Speaking on Twitter the day after the Spaniard’s history-making Australian Open win, Tsitsipas revealed that Nadal had offered him some advice that changed his outlook on relationships with fellow players.

“Laver Cup 2019 when I happened to be in the same team with Rafael Nadal and I asked him something and he asked me ‘what does make you happy?’,” the 23-year-old revealed.

“And I thought, oh actuality, go for whatever makes you happy.”

Tsitsipas admitted this comment changed the way he interacted with fellow players on tour, including some of his rivals.

“I’ve certainly tried a lot this year to be more open and be more kind with my peers and my competitors,” Tsitsipas said.

The Greek then added that some players still “annoyed” him because of their bad attitude, but he’s learnt to prioritise his happiness above everything else.

Rafael Nadal (left) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (right).

“I give them zero attention because they don’t deserve any attention for pretending to be someone they are not…” he said.

Tsitsipas and Nadal were both part of Team Europe for the 2019 Laver Cup, held in Geneva, Switzerland, and played doubles together on day two of the event.

They lost to Team World’s Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock in a first-to-ten-point match tiebreak.

Source: express.co.uk

Greece to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics with five athletes

The Greek Herald
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Greece to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics with five athletes

Greece has sent five athletes to Beijing this year as China’s capital gears up to host the Winter Olympics from February 4 to February 20.

The Greek team consists of Maria Danou (cross country skiing), Ioannis Antoniou (slalom), Maria-Eleni Tsiovolou (alpine skiing), Nefeli Tita and Apostolos Angelis (cross-country skiing).

The athletes left Greece on Sunday and are now preparing to lead all the athletic teams at the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday.

Danou and Antoniou, who was the first torchbearer of the Olympic Flame for the 2022 Games, will be carrying the Greek national flag during the opening ceremony.

This year’s Games in Beijing have been the subject to diplomatic boycotts from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada over China’s human rights record, including its treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in the implementation of health and safety protocols, and restrictions on public attendance of the Games.

The President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), Spyros Capralos, has said he is confident organisers will create a safe and successful Games.

Turkey blames Greece after 12 migrants freeze to death near border

The Greek Herald
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Turkey blames Greece after 12 migrants freeze to death near border

The bodies of 12 migrants who froze to death were found near Turkey’s border with Greece, the Turkish Interior Minister said on Wednesday.

In a tweet, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said that those who had died were found near the Ipsala border crossing “without shoes and stripped of their clothes,” and had been among 22 people allegedly pushed back into Turkey by Greek border guards.

The minister didn’t provide further details, but shared blurred photographs of eight of the recovered bodies, including three in shorts and T-shirts.

Greece has long denied Turkish claims that its forces push migrants back into Turkey, or sink migrant boats at sea.

On Wednesday, Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis dismissed Soylu’s remarks as “false propaganda,” saying Turkey needed to do more to prevent migrants from setting off from there.

“These migrants never made it to the border,” Mitarakis said in a statement. “Any suggestion that they did, or indeed were pushed back into Turkey, is utter nonsense.”

Mitarakis accused Turkey of failing to prevent migrants from approaching the border area and undertaking “these dangerous journeys.”

“Instead of accusing others, Turkey should assume its responsibilities if we want to prevent such tragedies from occurring again,” Mitarakis said.

The International Organisation for Migration said it was “horrified” by the reported deaths and that it would follow up the incident with the relevant authorities.

Greece is one of the main routes into the European Union for migrants and refugees from Africa, the Middle East and beyond, though the flow has tapered off since 2015-2016 when more than a million people traversed the country to other EU states.

Source: AP News.

Suspect arrested in Thessaloniki murder case as tributes flow for 19-year-old victim

The Greek Herald
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Suspect arrested in Thessaloniki murder case as tributes flow for 19-year-old victim

Police in Thessaloniki arrested on Wednesday a suspect in connection with the murder of 19-year-old, Alkis Kambanos, in the city’s eastern district of Harilaou.

Early reports identified the suspect as a 22-year-old man of Albanian origin.

According to Ekathimerini, the suspect is a member of the Palaion Patron Germanou Street PAOK fan club and has a history of violence-related offenses, including charges of assault with a bladed weapon in 2019 near the scene of the murder.

He was one of three individuals detained after a police operation on Tuesday and will appear before a city prosecutor Thursday.

The arrest came after a video showing the suspects fleeing the scene of the murder was released by Greek news website thestival.gr. The footage shows the suspects running to two stopped cars that were waiting for the perpetrators to escape the area.

Alkis Kambanos, along with two friends, were intercepted and attacked on the street in Harilaou around 1 am on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old bled to death after being stabbed in the upper thigh. The other two are being treated for multiple injuries at the Papanikolaou Hospital. Reported to be in good health, the two are expected to be discharged from the hospital on Thursday.

READ MORE: Weapon used in Thessaloniki knife attack that killed 19-year-old student found.

The scene of the crime.

Tributes flow for Alkis:

News of Kambanos’ death has shocked Greece with many paying tribute to him.

Fans of Thessaloniki side, Aris FC, hoisted banners paying tribute to Kambanos in their home grounds, two days after the student was murdered.

The banners went up in Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium shortly before a scheduled match with visiting Athens side AEK.

“Words are unnecessary. Rest in peace, Alkis. You were taken in a cowardly and unjust way. May your soul be our guide,” the banner stated.

People paid tribute to Alkis. Photo: InTime News.

Both sides held a minute’s silence before the game and laid wreaths.

Earlier, Aris players laid a jersey displaying the number 19 at the spot where the young man was killed.

Greece’e President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, also released a statement on social media on Wednesday calling the murder a “brutal act.”

“How can we tolerate our streets, our parks, and our squares becoming the setting of violence between rival gangs, endangering the lives of citizens?” Sakellaropoulou asked.

“And more importantly, how did violence become the only form of expression for a group of young people with issues of social inclusion, sentiments of marginalisation, extremely negative perceptions, and fears of a cancelled future?

“…Let the brutal act in Thessaloniki, that cost the life of a young person and injured two more, not become just one more incident in the ongoing transformation of social life into an arena of rivalry, bigotry, enmity, and ultimately, lethal inhumanity.”

In a tweet after the arrest, Citizens’ Protection Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, said that Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, had also been informed of the latest developments, while vowing that the authorities remain committed to holding perpetrators accountable under law. 

Source: Ekathimerini.

‘Times have changed’: Detective Superintendent Mick Calatzis on breaking barriers in the AFP

Andriana Simos
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‘Times have changed’: Detective Superintendent Mick Calatzis on breaking barriers in the AFP

If you take one look at Detective Superintendent Mick Calatzis’ police hat, you can instantly tell he has over 38 years’ experience in policing. Over time, the white wreath emblazoned on his hat has turned golden, earning him the nickname ‘The Golden Greek’ for his dedication and distinguished police service to the Australian community.

But of course, this recognition didn’t come easy for Supt. Calatzis.

Born in Melbourne to Greek migrants, Supt. Calatzis’ family moved to Greece when he was five years old before returning to Perth in Western Australia a year later. Once there, he helped his parents in their fish and chip shop, while also going to school with limited English and dealing with ‘a lot of racism and indifference.’

Eventually, he made the decision to apply to join the WA Police.

The wreath of Supt. Calatzis’ hat has turned gold over time.

“It was pure accident. You know how most people go ‘I always wanted to be a cop’? For me it was the opposite. I was very devoted to my family’s business prospects… but the bottom line is that the succession plan was too dramatic so I just had to revise my life again,” Supt. Calatzis tells The Greek Herald exclusively.

“So I applied for the WA Police, I just made a decision. I suppose I had a romantic notion about it because I thought policing is about dealing with injustice, helping people, protecting life and property.

“Plus, it appealed to me because ‘police’ is a Greek word meaning ‘city’ so I thought, ‘well that’s just a natural fit.’ A Greek Australian fitting into a word and a concept that’s thousands of years old.”

In the end, Supt. Calatzis was accepted into the WA Police, but he never joined. Instead, a friend of his encouraged him to join the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and he became the first Greek Australian commissioned officer in the force.

Supt. Calatzis’ farewell party the day before he left for Canberra.

‘It’s going to be a tough journey for you’:

Supt. Calatzis says holding this title was an honour but as a young 19-year-old who just wanted to fit in at the AFP at the time, it also came with extreme challenges.

“If I’m honest, I was just completely naïve about what the police and its culture was all about. It was bloody hard. Automatically, I hit this wall of indifference and people telling me that even if I passed my course, I would have secondary opportunities,” he explains.

“There was nobody like me that I could relate to… My culture was rigged and I just had to roll with the punches. I knew you couldn’t fight everybody off.”

Supt. Calatzis, pictured here with his daughter Lisa, faced challenges when he first entered the AFP.

This indifference was something Supt. Calatzis’ parents warned him about as well.

“My father was wise enough to actually tell me in his own words… ‘my son, these jobs are just for the Australians. You will not be accepted in the Australian police. This will be a tough journey for you’,” he says.

But despite these warnings and challenges, Supt. Calatzis never gave up.

Standing up for what’s right:

He is currently the North District Superintendent of ACT Policing, the Chairperson of the AFP Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Network and the most Senior CALD police officer in ACT Policing.

Supt. Calatzis in East Timor on Christmas Day handing out presents to children.
Supt. Calatzis working with the United Nations in Mozambique.

He has also been seconded to four regions in Australia – a Royal Commission, Mozambique, East Timor and AFP Commander Christchurch Earthquake.

More recently, he also received the Cross of St Andrew from Archbishop Makarios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. This award is the highest accolade in the Greek Orthodox Church and Supt. Calatzis says he is ‘honoured’ to be the first Greek Australian police officer to receive it.

Supt. Calatzis receiving the Cross of St Andrew. (L-R) John Loukadellis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, Supt. Calatzis, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Acting Sergeant Paul Calatzis, Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis and Father Petros Kipouros.

“I’ve had a very credible operational career and I’ve always been drawn to operations and I remain true to myself and be my own man,” Supt. Calatzis, who stresses that he is also a proud Australian, says.

“I’ve challenged bullies in my career, I’ve challenged injustice. I know I’m a mentor of many people. I get great pleasure in seeing people succeed in their careers.

“I haven’t gone with the grain, but I’m not apologetic for that. It’s easy to go as a pack but it takes courage to actually stand up for what’s right.”

Supt. Calatzis on the Keeling Islands.

And right now, what’s right for Supt. Calatzis is to continue breaking barriers for future generations and ensuring the AFP becomes more multicultural and inclusive for all.

“It’s wise for us to reflect multicultural Australia within the AFP, not just talk and just do another ‘Harmony Day.’ There’s more to every culture…” he explains.

“So [the AFP] has changed but there’s still a long way to go.”

Supt. Calatzis is now working to make the AFP more inclusive for all.

Does Supt. Calatzis encourage other young Greeks to become involved then?

“Yes,” he answers confidently, while stressing that his own son and daughter-in-law are in the police force as well.

“Policing, not matter what you do or what you say, is an occupation that requires resilience. It’s not glamorous… You’re no better than anybody else in the community. In fact, you should be humbled that you’re there as the right person to protect and serve them.”

Wise words from a Greek Australian who continues to challenge indifference in the police force.

‘Marrickville I’m home’: Anna Polyviou to open her first-ever patisserie shop

Andriana Simos
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‘Marrickville I’m home’: Anna Polyviou to open her first-ever patisserie shop

In some exciting news for fans of acclaimed pastry chef, Anna Polyviou, she announced on Monday that she is opening her first-ever patisserie shop in the old Cornersmith building in Marrickville.

“Marrickville I’m home,” Polyviou wrote on Facebook.

READ MORE: Anna Polyviou and her mum cook up a classic Greek feast for magazine special.

Polyviou opens her new shop. Photo: Facebook / Anna Polyviou.

“It’s forever been a dream of mine to be around such an amazing community. I have already meet so many people today. Stay tuned as we recipe test and develop…”

Speaking with Delicious Australia in October last year, Polyviou said the new patisserie will pump out fresh croissants and bakery treats every morning, as well as a range of spectacular celebration cakes for takeaway.

READ MORE: Look who’s cooking: Top six favourite Greek Australian chefs.

Anna Polyviou’s spanakopita. Photo: Delicious Magazine / Anna Polyviou Facebook.

“I also want to have a bit of a Greek twist in there as well. I want to be doing my spanakopita, I want to have some of mum’s haloumi cheese too,” the chef said in the magazine interview.

While the new shop is yet to be named, Polyviou said her new pastry creations will be inspired by the locals and she’s encouraged everyone to “stay tuned for taste testing sessions.”

She doesn’t have to ask us twice!

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